WorknStand

ABSTRACT

A WorknStand is an apparatus which quickly unfolds and sits on an existing desk structure. It permits the user to stand while working. It folds perfectly flat, allowing easy transportation and shipping. Its hinge structure is designed in such a way that it will resist folding when open and can be leaned on with a sturdy feel. It also securely locks in both the folded and unfolded positions.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This non-provisional utility patent application claims priority toprovisional application No. 61/797,835 filing date Dec. 17, 2012.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Most offices, work or study environments come pre-furnished with sittingdesk arrangements. If an individual prefers to stand while working it istherefore advantageous to have a portable apparatus that unfolds and canbe utilized with the existing furnishings. An apparatus is describedthat sits on top of existing desk structures permitting an individual tohave a standing desk. Its design and hinge structure is in such a mannerthat an individual can lean on the apparatus and it will remain verystable while also being light and foldable. There is a lot of prior artin this category however none that meets the specifications of theWorknStand: U.S. Pat. No. 426,7998, DE 202011105421 U1, DE 102012100867A1.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention is designed to provide a working surface that allows anindividual to stand while working without needing a large renovation toa traditional desk environment. The device is designed to fold up flatso that it can be shipped and moved easily. The device has sides withhinges that are oriented in a vertical manner which provides residenceto axial force and gives the apparatus a very sturdy feel, appropriatefor a working and writing surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

An exemplary embodiment of the apparatus is demonstrated via thefollowing drawings.

FIG. 1 illustrates a WorknStand from an angled frontal view. Note therails 11 attached to the undersurface of the platform 1 which preventthe sides 2 from opening past the outer edges of the platform.

FIG. 2 is a WorknStand from the front where the sides are beginning tobe folded in. Note the recesses 10 into which the locking mechanism 6(shown in FIG. 1) will mate, permitting folding flat. In FIG. 2 thelocking mechanism 6 is not visible because it is now hidden by theclosing sides.

FIG. 3 is a WorknStand from an angled frontal view where the sides arecompletely folded in and the platform 1 is beginning to fold down. Notethe critical design where the extension 4 is allowing the platform 1 tofold down flat over the side pieces 2.

FIG. 4 is a WorknStand from the bottom where the side pieces 2 arefolding in. In this version of the WorknStand the platform is smallerfrom side to side, necessitating the sides to overlap when folded.Because of this there is an extension 5 on the side of the back piece 3which is allowing the side piece to fold flat over the other side piece.On this view, the protrusion of the locking mechanism 6 out of the planeof the side 2 can be seen, necessitating the design element of therecesses 10 (shown in FIG. 2) to allow the apparatus to fold flat.

FIG. 5 is a WorknStand from the bottom showing the fully folded form.Note the critical function of the back's top extension 4 and sideextension 5 to permit this folding flat. Note also the strap 8 andbutton 9 (seen in FIG. 4) which lock the folded WorknStand, preventingit from opening.

FIG. 6 is a WorknStand view focused on the locking mechanism which sitson the top of the side piece and consists of a cam type lock 6 thatrotates to engage a flat keep 7 on the bottom of the platform 1. Thisdesign component is critical to allow folding flat of the WorknStand.

FIG. 7 is a WorknStand view focused on a cam version of the lockingmechanism. Note the cam 6 rotating into the keep 7, locking the platform1, down on top of the sides 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The apparatus has a top piece or platform 1 which folds down over thefolding sides 2. The platform can be made of any substance typicallyused for flat working surfaces; examples include wood, particle board,plywood, machined wood, melamine, metal, aluminum, and plastic. The toppiece articulates with the back piece 3 via an extension on top of theback piece 4. This extension allows the top piece to fold flat over theside pieces.

The side 2 of the device is a structure that supports the platform andcan be comprised and made of the same or different materials as the deskplatform. The sides of the device articulate along the back of the sidevia hinges with the back of the device. The sides of the device foldinwardly to become parallel planes with the back of the device whenclosed. The side of the device can be in the form of a leg or numerouslegs or planes of material that can support the weight of the platform.The sides can have many holes in them for various reasons such as todecrease weight or for passing cables or allowing air circulation.Furthermore, the sides provide stability to the device to not onlysupport the platform but to also prevent the back from toppling over.

The apparatus folds. In so folding it becomes flat for storing ortransportation. It folds specifically by the sides folding along agenerally vertically oriented hinge axis, defined by the side's edgesthat articulate with the back, to become parallel planes, when closed,with the back of the device. The platform top folds down, specificallyalong a generally horizontal axis defined by the edge that articulateswith the back of the device, to become parallel planes, when closed,with both the closed sides and the back.

The back 3 of the device is a structure that supports the platform 1 andcan be comprised and made of the same or different materials as the deskplatform. The back articulates with the platform via an articulatinghinge along its superior edge oriented in a generally horizontaldirection. The back also articulates with both sides along the left andright sides of the back's edges with articulating hinges that areoriented in a vertical direction. Similar to the sides, the back portioncan be in the form of a leg or numerous legs or planes of material thatsupport the hinges and weight of the platform. Furthermore, the backportion can have many holes in it for various reason such as to decreaseweight or for passing cables or allowing air circulation.

In one version of the invention, one designed to be smaller in a side toside dimension, the back piece not only has the top extension 4 but alsoa side extension 5 on one of the sides. This allows that side to foldflat over the other side, thereby keeping the unit flat for shippingpurposes. The side pieces 2 lock into place via a securing mechanism 6that is attached to the top of the side piece 2. In one version of theinvention the securing mechanism is a rotating cam lock 6 thatarticulates with the platform 1 via a “flat keep” 7 which is routed intothe top piece. When opened, the side pieces 2 are prevented from openingbeyond the outside edge of the platform 1 by rails 11 which run alongthe underside of the platform 1 in a front to back orientation. Variouslocking mechanisms can utilize either the rails 11, the undersurface ofthe platform 1 or the side pieces 2. When closed, the locking mechanism6 will fit into recesses 10 located in either the back or the outside ofthe contralateral side piece permitting flat folding.

The cam lock is a rotating lock 6, comprising a male projecting partthat is designed to make sliding contact with its keep 7 or female partand in so doing to impart reciprocal motion to the keep and what isattached to the keep. The cam lock can impart a unidirectional forcevector or multidirectional force vector, depending on the crosssectional shape of the male projecting part. For example, some cam lockswill be comprised of a flat piece of material which will taper in oneplane; this imparts reciprocal motion to the keep in only that plane. Onthe other hand, if the cam's projection in cross section tapers more asa cone or fraction of a cone, then it will impart reciprocal motion tothe keep in the planes of motion defined by the tapering of the cone'sdimension.

The rail 11 is a raised part of the undersurface of the platform 1 thatfunctions to block the sides from folding beyond the outer limits of theplatform edges or to provide material into which the sides can lockthemselves or both.

A keep 7 refers to the female component of the lock that the cammechanism rotates into or the non-cam projection inserts into or both,in the later case the non-cam projection's keep has an opening that isnarrower than the maximum diameter of its male companion's projection.

The recesses 10 are areas where the lock mechanism will slip into whenthe apparatus is closed permitting flat folding. Recesses can be notchedout parts of either the back or the sides. Recesses can also be hollowedor absent areas within the back or sides which allow the lockingmechanism to hold into.

Finally, the device consists of having a strap 8 and button 9 or otherbasic lock mechanism which keeps the device folded and prevents it fromaccidentally opening when transported or stored.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus, comprised partly of a rectangularplatform which may include blocking rails oriented front to back alongthe platform's underside and located near the left and right edges,where the platform is connected with a horizontally oriented hinge alongits rear edge to a horizontal extension of a back portion and the backportion in turn is connected on each side edge to two side portions byhinges oriented vertically along their rear edges, which folds and in sodoing causes its side portions to fold inwards and to the rear and theplatform to fold down and to the rear so that when closed theapparatus's platform, sides and back exist in parallel planes and inthis closed condition the apparatus may or may not have a latchingmechanism that connects the front undersurface of the platform to thelower aspects of a side portion or the back portion or both and in sodoing, prevents the apparatus from opening.
 2. An apparatus as inclaim 1) where upon being opened the side portions and platform areconnected to each other via a mechanism that secures the sides to theundersurface of the platform or the platform's blocking rails or both.3. An apparatus as in claim 2) where the securing mechanism is comprisedof a cam type lock that, when activated, pulls the platform securelyagainst the top of the sides preventing rising of the platform oraccidental folding of the sides or both.
 4. An apparatus as in claim 3)where if the CAM lock projects from the outside aspect of the sideportion, when folded, the CAM lock is recessed within a correspondingrecess in the folded apparatus' platform's undersurface or backwardfacing aspect of the opposite folded side portion or both permittingflat folding.
 5. An apparatus as in claim 3) where if the CAM lockprojects from the inside aspect of the side portion, when folded, theCAM lock is recessed within a corresponding recess in the forward facingaspect of the back portion or forward facing aspect of the oppositefolded side portion or both, permitting flat folding.
 6. An apparatus asin claim 3) where if the CAM lock projects from the platform's rail,when folded, the CAM lock is recessed within a corresponding recess inthe folded apparatus's side portion's external rear edge, permittingflat folding.
 7. An apparatus as in claim 3) where if the CAM lockprojects from the undersurface of the platform, when folded, the CAMlock is recessed within a corresponding recess in the folded apparatus'sside portion's external rear edge, permitting flat folding.
 8. Anapparatus as in claim 2) where the securing mechanism is a wideningnon-cam male projection from either the platform's underside orplatform's rail or side portions and which articulates with thecorresponding rail, undersurface of platform or side portion via afemale keep whose diameter is smaller than the male projection'sdiameter.
 9. An apparatus as in claim 8) where if the male projectionlocks into a keep in the platform's rails, when folded, the maleprojection is recessed within a corresponding recess in the foldedapparatus' platform's undersurface or backward facing aspect of theopposite folded side portion or both permitting flat folding.
 10. Anapparatus as in claim 8) where if the male projection projects from therail and locks into a keep on the outside of the side portion, whenfolded, the male projection is recessed within a corresponding recess inthe folded apparatus's side portion's external rear edge, permittingflat folding.
 11. An apparatus as in claim 8) where if the maleprojection locks into a keep in the undersurface of the platform, whenfolded, the male projection is recessed within a corresponding recess inthe folded apparatus' platform's undersurface or back portion'shorizontal projection's undersurface or both permitting flat folding.12. An apparatus as in claim 8) where if the male projection projectsfrom the undersurface of the platform into a keep on the top of the sideportion, when folded, the male projection is recessed within acorresponding recess in the folded apparatus's side portion's externalrear edge, permitting flat folding.
 13. An apparatus as in claim 2)where the securing mechanism is comprised of magnets where one polarityis a component of the undersurface of the platform or platform's rail orboth and the opposite polarity is attached to the top of the side orinside or outside of the side or both depending on its opposing positionto its mate.
 14. An apparatus, designed to have a smaller platform in aleft to right orientation than that described in claim 1 and whichtherefore necessitates overlapping sides when closed and which istherefore comprised of a rectangular platform which may include blockingrails oriented front to back along the platform's underside and locatednear the left and right edges, where the platform is connected with ahorizontally oriented hinge along its rear edge to a horizontalextension of a back portion and the back portion in turn is connected onone side immediately to a side portion via hinges oriented verticallyalong their joining edge and on the other side of the back piece thereis an extension of the back piece projecting to the front which is thenconnected to a side portion via vertically oriented hinges, which foldsand in so doing causes the side portion which is connected directly tothe back portion to fold first and the opposite side to fold second sothat they overlap on each other, and the platform folds down and to therear so that when closed the apparatus's platform, sides and back existin parallel planes and in this closed condition the apparatus may or maynot have a latching mechanism that connects the front undersurface ofthe platform to the lower aspects of a side portion or the back portionor both and in so doing, prevents the apparatus from opening.
 15. Anapparatus as in claim 14) where upon being opened the side portions andplatform are connected to each other via a mechanism that secures thesides to the undersurface of the platform or the platform's blockingrails or both.
 16. An apparatus as in claim 15) where the securingmechanism is comprised of a cam type lock that, when activated, pullsthe platform securely against the top of the sides preventing rising ofthe platform or accidental folding of the sides or both.
 17. Anapparatus as in claim 16) where if the CAM lock projects from theoutside aspect of the side portion, when folded, the CAM lock isrecessed within a corresponding recess in the folded apparatus'platform's undersurface or backward facing aspect of the opposite foldedside portion or both permitting flat folding.
 18. An apparatus as inclaim 16) where if the CAM lock projects from the inside aspect of theside portion, when folded, the CAM lock is recessed within acorresponding recess in the forward facing aspect of the back portion orforward facing aspect of the opposite folded side portion or both,permitting flat folding.
 19. An apparatus as in claim 16) where if theCAM lock projects from the platform's rail, when folded, the CAM lock isrecessed within a corresponding recess in the folded apparatus's sideportion's external rear edge, permitting flat folding.
 20. An apparatusas in claim 16) where if the CAM lock projects from the undersurface ofthe platform, when folded, the CAM lock is recessed within acorresponding recess in the folded apparatus's side portion's externalrear edge, permitting flat folding.
 21. An apparatus as in claim 15)where the securing mechanism is a widening non-cam male projection fromeither the platform's underside or platform's rail or side portions andwhich articulates with the corresponding rail, undersurface of platformor side portion via a female keep whose diameter is smaller than themale projection's diameter.
 22. An apparatus as in claim 21) where ifthe male projection locks into a keep in the platform's rails, whenfolded, the male projection is recessed within a corresponding recess inthe folded apparatus' platform's undersurface or backward facing aspectof the opposite folded side portion or both permitting flat folding. 23.An apparatus as in claim 21) where if the male projection projects fromthe rail and locks into a keep on the outside of the side portion, whenfolded, the male projection is recessed within a corresponding recess inthe folded apparatus's side portion's external rear edge, permittingflat folding.
 24. An apparatus as in claim 21) where if the maleprojection locks into a keep in the undersurface of the platform, whenfolded, the male projection is recessed within a corresponding recess inthe folded apparatus' platform's undersurface or back portion'shorizontal projection's undersurface or both permitting flat folding.25. An apparatus as in claim 21) where if the male projection projectsfrom the undersurface of the platform into a keep on the top of the sideportion, when folded, the male projection is recessed within acorresponding recess in the folded apparatus's side portion's externalrear edge, permitting flat folding.
 26. An apparatus as in claim 15)where the securing mechanism is comprised of magnets where one polarityis a component of the undersurface of the platform or platform's rail orboth and the opposite polarity is attached to the top of the side orinside or outside of the side or both depending on its opposing positionto its mate.